Details

I figured I'd add the detail, you know, for posterity. Now that you've seen the pictures, I'm sure you all have lots of questions :-)

Details: Total gut renovation with removal of non-load and load-bearing wall. From demo to functioning kitchen with all the large items completed was 8 weeks, which included 2 weeks of which we were on vacation, and at least 2 weeks (somewhat overlapping) when there was NO activity.

I had budgeted $50k based on the amount that I wanted to spend. When we took out the HELOC, we had to pay off the 2nd that we already had, so that left us with approximately $42 to spend. When the estimates came in, and I added up what I budgeted spending, I figured just over $35k for the project. With a 20% contingency, it came out to be just over $43k, and that's about what we've spent. I still need to do the final accounting, but out of the gate I was over $1k for the cabinets, we went over on the refrigerator ($1k), and there were additional costs to the project ($3k), and there were miscellaneous budget busters or unbudgeted items that brought us up to the ~$7k contingency.

Cabinets: Kraftmaid Maple Hunnington in Biscotti
Counter tops: Julia soapstone
Floors: red oak, matching dining room and living room
Hardware: Restoration Hardware Marston cup and strap pulls
Lighting: Hinkley Lighting small pendant OBF, from lighting universe with no problems
appliances: all existing except for refrigerator and disposal:
DW: Kenmore
OTR MW: Maytag
Stove: GE
Refrigerator: NEW Electrolux IQ Touch FD CD with ice and water in the door Black. Bought from AJ Madison with no issues - excellent customer service when I pushed out the delivery date 4 times.
Disposal: Insinkerator Compact Evolution
Sink: Blanco 511-710 Blanco diamond Single Bowl Kitchen Sink, Biscuit
Faucet: final faucet will be Elements of Design Tempa 2 handled in ORB, but currently have cheap temporary is Kingston Brass Victorian twin handled faucet.
Paint color: SW Milk Pail (a Martha Stewart color, which is discontinued, but they will still make it for you)
Bar stools: Boraam Industries Ming bar stool Glass in cabinet: wissmach hammered
Patio door: outswinging Anderson french door with retractable screen.